Are Denture Adhesives Safe for Oral Cells?

Area of Science:

• Oral biology
• Biomaterials science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Denture adhesives are widely used by individuals with dentures.
• Assessing the biocompatibility of denture adhesives is crucial for oral health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the cytotoxicity of six commercially available denture adhesives on human gingival cells.
• To evaluate the impact of denture adhesives on cell viability, morphology, apoptosis, and ROS production.

Main Methods:

• Human gingival cells were exposed to eluates of six denture adhesives.
• Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry for apoptosis/necrosis and ROS.
• The pH of each eluate was measured, and data were analyzed using ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Fixodent Pro Duo Protection and Fixodent Pro Plus Duo Protection significantly decreased cell viability and induced necrosis and aberrant cell morphology.
• These two zinc-containing adhesives also significantly promoted ROS production.
• Poligrip Flavour Free Fixative Cream demonstrated significantly higher cell viability compared to other adhesives.

Conclusions:

• Denture adhesives containing zinc may decrease cell viability, increase ROS production, and induce apoptosis and cell death in gingival cells.
• Further research is needed to identify other potential cytotoxic factors in denture adhesives.